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Portugal is competing at the 5^th World Cup, and is pegged as the 3^rd best team in the world in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. That means that Portugal’s national soccer team might be garnering some headlines –

so here is a quick look at the European nation that might surprise the world this summer.

World Cup Record to Date:

1966 – Third place

1986 – First round

2002 – First round

2006 – Fourth place

Overall Record in World Cup:

Played 19 games: Won 11, Tied 1, Lost 7.

World Cup Highlight:

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira scored four goals in one game as Portugal overcame North Korea 5-3 in the quarterfinals of the 1966 World Cup. Portugal and North Korea are in eh same group in 2010.  Eusébio scored nine goals at the 1966 Cup, the tournament’s top scorer.

The story so far: Portugal ‘s national team has emerged as a force in world soccer over the past decade, an amazing feat for a nation of 10 million. The squad is led by 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Country:
About the size of Maine, Portugal is a country of contrasts that boasts some of the most unspoiled natural vistas, the richest traditions, the most intoxicating culture, the most adrenaline-pumping adventures, and the most serene retreats in all of Europe.

Geographically, Portugal is closer to the United States than anything else in Europe – both on the mainland (Lisbon is continental Europe’s westernmost city) and in the Atlantic Ocean (the Azores Islands are just four hours from Boston).

The nation’s heart and its largest city is Lisbon – a charming, stately capital   reputedly founded 2,500 years ago by Ulysses.  It is a city dotted with churches, museums, monuments and markets, with a way of life that is distinctive and elegantly esoteric.  Lisbon is also Portugal’s home of the 21st century, exuding coolness and home to high-tech industries, dynamic architecture, trendy boutiques, stylish hotels, hip restaurants, and hot nightspots full of next year’s styles.  A few hours up the coast is Porto (sometimes called Oporto): monumental, historic, and known worldwide for the sweet Port wine that is produced in the rich Douro River Valley.  Between Lisbon and Porto are the ancient cities and hilltop villages home to Portugal’s famous Pousadas – hotels built into monasteries, castles, and fortresses.  Traveling inland, visitors explore the Roman remains, palaces, cork forests, olive groves, wide-open fields, and finally the sweeping peaks that mark the border with Spain.  Traditionally ‘In’ resorts like Estoril and Cascais hug up to the Atlantic, and on the country’s southernmost coast the weather is warm and the golf courses and beaches are plentiful.

Finally, the nation’s two archipelagos add an exotic element to Portugal: Soaring Madeira, warm and flower-filled to the south, and the mid-Atlantic Azores, wild, windswept and unspoiled.

The Facts:
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain.  Six hours flight from U.S. East Coast to the mainland, or four hours flight to the Azores islands.

Capital: Lisbon (also called Lisboa).  Population of greater Lisbon: two million.  Lisbon is at the same latitude as San Francisco.

Climate: Portugal has a mild climate without extremes of temperature. Winters are pleasant, and summers are moderately hot. The Norte (Porto) has an Atlantic climate influenced by the Gulf Stream. The middle of the country (the Lisbon and the Centro de Portugal Region) has gentle dry summers and short mild winters.  Southern Portugal (the Alentejo and Algarve Regions) has a warm, dry Mediterranean climate without extremes of heat. The Madeira islands offer an inviting climate all year-round with temperatures around 70 degrees. The Azores islands also offer very mild weather moderated by the Atlantic’s maritime influence.

Population: 10,566,212 (July 2005 est. -about the same as the state of Maine).

Area: 35,672 square miles (about the same as the state of Maine – includes Azores and Madeira archipelagos).

Land: 35,502 sq mi;

Water: 170 sq mi. More than 400 miles of coastline.

Islands: The nine Azores islands in the mid-Atlantic are a four hours flight from Boston, at the same latitude as New England.  Madeira’s two islands, 90 minutes south of Lisbon by air, are at the same latitude as Charleston, S.C.

Language: Portuguese (English is spoken throughout the country).

Time Zone: GMT – Five hours ahead of U.S. East Coast time in mainland Portugal and Madeira; the Azores are just four hours ahead of EST.

Chief Cities: Lisbon and Porto are the two largest. Regional cities include Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Portalegre, Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Viseu.

Tourism: Approximately 12 million visitors annually, including 250.000 (approx.) from the USA.

Learn more: www.visitportugal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo:

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in Funchal, Madeira on February 5, 1985. He is a Portuguese soccer star who plays on the national team as #7. He takes his name from U.S. President Ronald Regan. The winger and forward is one of the highest paid soccer players in the world. He began playing the sport at the age of five and by the summer of 2003 joined Manchester United. Cristiano Ronaldo played for the team for approximately five years, after which he signed to Real Madrid on July 1, 2009.

Ronaldo’s autobiography, titled Moments, was published in December 2007. Ronaldo is also the face of various advertising campaigns including the Portuguese bank Banco Espírito Santo, Pepe Jeans, Nike, Coca-Cola, Emporio Armani, Castrol, and Clear Shampoo. He is also featured in his underwear on the July 2010 cover of Vanity Fair.  Media sources have recently linked Cristiano Ronaldo to Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, among other famous women.

Heritage until August 31st, since Fado faces the risk of loosing its identity from 2 centuries ago and they also defend to create museums and archives and introduce Fado in the schools curriculums. Portugal will apply to the United Nations to have the Fado declared World Heritable next year, according to Portugal’s U.N. ambassador, Manuel Maria Carrilho. The application is anticipated as being approved by the end of 2010. Carrilho credits the work of the City of Lisbon and professor Rui Vieira Nery for six years of preparation for the application. He spoke at the opening of Amália, Coração Independente at Lisbon’s Belem Cultural Center. Fado an ancient song that often expresses deep-seated feelings, disappointment in love, the sense of sadness and longing for someone who has gone away, everyday events, the ups and downs of life – inspiration for Fado can come from almost any source. Fado is a symbol of Portugal, a celebrated form of world music that has retained its traditional qualities but evolved with the times. Amália Rodriques brought Fado to the great concert halls of Europe and the attention of international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s.  Today, Fadista Mariza, who continues to tour overseas, taking the Fado to an even wider audience.  The more popular forms of Fado are found in the cities near the sea, such as Lisbon or Porto, and  in the Alentejo and Ribatejo too. Coimbra has given the music its own unique feel, making it popular among students.

SATA Plus passengers business class passengers, as well as members of the SATA Goldsky Imagine, can use a new Lounge at Logan International Airport in Boston. The new Azores Express/SATA International Lounge is managed by Air France. The new lounge room capacity for 160 people and was recently opened by Air France. That is, it is a completely new space, sophisticated and modern. The new SATA Lounge in Boston has all the services that are normally expected for such facilities, including telephone, fax, Internet, Wi-Fi, LCD TVs, iMacs, variety of snacks + sandwiches and drinks, newspapers, magazines, etc. The new lounge is open to passengers traveling in Business Class and members Goldsky Plus SATA.  SATA Imagine, is the airlines frequent flier program, which as lot of new perks for embers such as new menus, meal on board the aircraft SATA International, with the signature of the Chief Chakall, free parking for 24 hours at the airports of Ponta Delgada, Funchal, Lisbon and Porto, as well as offering valet service at Lisbon Airport Express, the updating of Lounges, bigger and better assistance in case of flight irregularities, etc. The result of improving the service provided in Class SATA Plus resulted in a 2.3% increase in the number of passengers traveling in this class in 2009 compared to 2008. For more information got to http://www.sata.pt

Visit the International Garden Festival and prepare to be amazed by the exquisite spaces crated within the framework of this original initiative. This event is held between May 28th and October 30th, 2010 and fosters enjoyment and expertise in the field of gardens and gardening, in profound connection to preservation of heritage values and defence of the environment.

Dedicated to a different topic every year, a wide array of national and international projects apply to this festival and 12 are selected and then installed in Ponte de Lima. During a 5-month period, these ephemeral gardens may be visited and appreciated by the general public, thereby offering the opportunity to discover new approaches in the conception of green spaces and different creative trends.

Two and a half decades after joining the European Union in 1986 Portugal is very different place. Portugal’s European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates spoke at a ceremony to mark the day at Lisbon’s Jeronimos Monastery, where Portugal signed the accession treaty 25 years ago. Socrates called for “a European response based on solidarity and cohesion between states and European peoples.” The Portuguese economy experienced a big jump when Portugal joined the European Union as well as the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1999.  Portugal’s membership in the EU contributed to stable economic growth, largely through increased trade and an inflow of EU funds for infrastructure improvements.

The Adega Cooperativa de Borba has just won gold and silver medals for it red wines at the respected competition ‘Sélection Mondiales des Vins‘ held in Quebec, Canada. The gold went to the red Regional Alentejano 2008, and the silver to adegaborba.pt Reserva 2006, a DOC Alentejo red.

The group behind the Douro Palace Hotel will build  anew 5-star hotel on the banks of the Douro River in  Pala, based on the strong occupancy rates and   30% growth already scene at the Douro Palace Hotel. Set into a green cliff overlooking the Douro River in Baião province, the small palace covered in blue tiles and the contrasting white minimalist building that make up the Douro Palace Hotel Resort & SPA stand out. This combination of the historical with the contemporary has brought to life a hotel with elegant spaces, boasting modern design and refined details, and also benefiting from the superb location and the refreshing natural surroundings.

You can’t miss this striking traveling exhibition in Castelo Branco that will present over 30 real-scale species in a 3000 sq meter area. National Railways will also be involved in this initiative through the creation of a new tourist package “Dinosaurs’ Train”. Several parallel events will be held, such as theatre performances, pedagogical and leisure activities on paleontology. This exhibition will travel along the whole territory of Tejo International and it can be seen from March to October, 2010.

This is the second year that the Association for the Promotion of Trade in Cascais will transform shop windows on main street with art. Starting May 17 some 83 windows of local businesses in Estoril and Cascais will display art created by 120 artists. These are the works of Victor Bethlehem, Paulo Teixeira Pinto, Paul Mathieu, William Parente, Freitas Cruz, Isa Ribeiro, Dario Vidal, Pedro Pinto Coelho and Miguel Bual, among others. The idea is to change the imagery of street commerce while enhancing the historic centers of Cascais and Estoril, transforming them into huge outdoor art galleries.  http://www.comcascais.pt/ and http://aeiou.visao.pt/a-maior-galeria-de-arte-do-pais=f559902

The Alentejo winery Adega de Borba is celebrating its Montes Claros wine in June with special wine paring dinners at fine Lisbon restaurants.  The eateries will be serving  Montes Claros garrafeira, Montes Claros Reserva red and Montes Claros Reserva White. The special dinner will be offered in June at:

Dom Feijão ­ June 7 to 11 – Tel. +(351) 218 464 038

O Poleiro ­ June 14 to 18 – Tel. (+351) 217 976 265

Belcanto ­ June 21 to July 2 – Tel. (+351) 213 420 607

Tivoli Caffè opened its doors on May 29th, 2010. This intends be the new meeting point in Coimbra, offering cuisine, music and design. Enjoy your Tivoli experience!

The Algarve Summer will once again be enlivened by the Allgarve Gourmet program. From August 10^th to 15th, the Jardim Pescador Olhanense will be hosting the Seafood Festival, which includes the Allgarve Gourmet, an initiative of Turismo de Portugal, coordinated by José Bento dos Santos, where some of the great chefs of international cuisine will be displaying their skills. Everyday, these chefs will be found in the Gourmet section of the Seafood Festival, generously and professionally preparing the most delicious dishes from the sea, including the very best shellfish and seafood typically found in the Algarve. These dishes will be presented in original recipes, some based on our Portuguese culinary traditions, while others will be entirely modern and are guaranteed to be a truly gastronomic delight.

On this day of Portugal we hail the poet whose death it remembers, Luís Vaz de Camões (1524-June 10, 1580). The true power of his command of Portuguese is unequalled, and on the level of Shakespeare, Homer, Virgil, and Dante. He loved his nation, although he deed it ungrateful. This is considered one of his most moving poems, Alma Minha Gentil: the Dear gentle soul for mine, who has departed so soon from this life, discontented rest in heaven eternally while I remain here, forever saddened. If there in the ethereal place that you have gone memories of this life are allowed, do not forget that ardent love you always saw so pure in my eyes. And if you judge there might be worthy of you, some small bit of this pain that I am left with, Of the pain with out remedy of losing you prey God, who cut short your life, to take me quickly to see you, As quick as from my sight he took you. Enjoy the power of Camoes as read by João Villaret(the poem that starts at 1m40s)

Fátima Lopes is now also entering the restaurant business. Widely considered to be Portugal’s most international fashion designer, Lopes new restaurant is more than a restaurant, it’s also a bar and the large pavement outside by the entrance will have tables when weather allows it. The cuisine will be contemporary Portuguese, created by João Simões, a rising star in Lisbon’s gastronomy who’s won the Junior Chef distinction at the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). He’s previously worked at Lisbon’s Bica do Sapato, Hotel Four Seasons Provence (France), and until recently was at one of the restaurants of Altis Belém Hotel. In addition to the food you can expect good background music and drinks served until 2 A.M. at the bar. http://www.chiadounique.com/

Lisbon will be the backdrop for ABC’s hit reality show this spring.  The Bachelorette brings more than 80 people, including production team and contestants, to Lisboa during four days in April. The group will stay at Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa, a member of Turismo de Lisboa. São Jorge Castle, the No. 28 tramcar route and Sintra are just a few of the settings where the filming will take place, some of which will be filmed indoors. The format of this reality show involves a romantic atmosphere where the contestants use all their charm to try to be “the chosen one” by the woman who co-stars in the show. The filming of Lisbon will be broadcast in May.

Malo Clinic Spa Luso – Thermal & Medical Spa is scheduled to open in  mid summer 2010 and will offer new hydro-massages, relaxing showers and some hidropinia treatments (water ingestion – drinking waters to alleviate some respiratory symptoms). ³Água Termal de Luso² in Centrohas a remarkable therapeutic effect on chronic disorders of the renal-urinary system, hypertension, metabolic disorders, rheumatism, locomotion system and chronic respiratory disorders and skin ailments. Due to its diuretic and detoxifying effects, the water absorption from the Thermal Water Fountain has a therapeutic effect on chronic disorders of the renal-urinary system, hypertension, metabolic disorders, rheumatism, locomotion system and chronic respiratory disorders and skin ailments.

The Southern European Atlantic Diet? A new report by the University of Porto Medical School points to how the traditional diet of northern Portugal has resulted in very low rates of death from heart disease. Not a surprise with a diet based in fresh fish and salt cod, red meat, pork, local dairy products, vegetables and potatoes; and Portuguese wine with meals.

So, think of the new saying “A bowl of Caldo Verde soup ( a rich mix of shredded cabbage, potato, garlic, onion and olive oil) keeps the doctor away.  And maybe some local smoked (Chouriço sausage  and white corn bread with that? This is, after all, the land of Vinho Verde-  a fresh, slightly sparkling wine . When it comes to fish, dishes based on river lamprey mix with cod, (Bacalhau, for the hearts and stomachs of the Minho’s population. As for meat, local favorites include the (Serrabulho, which begins its cooking process as boiled pig’s blood before blending with rice. There are also the crackling pork (Rojões) and leg of pork à Clara Penha.

Carthaginians, Celts, Romans, Moors, all left their mark on Lisbon. The Portuguese capital is said to be the oldest still-inhabited city in Europe after Athens, and every time a hole is dug, something from a very distant past is revealed. Many of those archaeological finds were unearthed around the Castle of St. George (it was given that name in the 14th century after King João of Portugal married the English princess Philippa of Lancaster), and the site includes a small museum with the most important finds. However, the archaeological site itself has remained closed since the mid-90s until today. Lisbon is now the only European capital with an archaeological site showing remains from constructions dating back to the Iron Age all the way to the 18th century. This is one of the rare sites on Earth where you can see the presence of so many civilizations, and for those interested in archaeology or the history of Lisbon, it’s a site not to miss when visiting the city and one of its most beloved landmarks.

If you are riding the Lisbon Trolley 28E on the afternoon and Sunday, June 6 prepare for a different journey, the sound of the traditional Portuguese Fado. This initiative, part of the program of celebrations in Lisbon will be offered on 11,13,16 and June 20, 2010. Between 4 and 8 p.m., A normal ticket history Lisbon trolley, giving access to a lively journey to the sound of Fado more traditional and rich, in a show for all ages and can be enjoyed by “alfacinha “or the many visitors who flock to Lisbon and whose journey in 28E is a must. With the Trolley 28, Fado gets a new stage that slides from Martim Moniz to Prazeres, through grace, Alfama, Bairro Alto and Bica.
Come travel with the car to the sound of Fado!

As part of  the “Douro Emotions” program, the town of Lamego (Norte) will hold a Food Festival Douro Indoor on the 16 to 20 of June in conjunction with the Festival da Bôla, the Motor Track Vila Real and Music Festival in Peso da Régua , which take place on 19 and June 20; 24-27 June and 1-4 July, 2010. This is an initiative of the Regional Tourism Authority of Douro, in partnership with the School of Hospitality and Tourism of the Douro, Lamego City Council, the School of Technology and Management and HTDOURO – Association of Hotels and Tourism Douro promoted by municipalities of Vila Real, Lamego and weight of the Ruler, and you want to bring fun events to the cities of the area.

Visit the Promontory of Sagres and explore the “Novos Ventos” (New winds) exhibition – an innovative approach to the Portuguese discoveries and wind and sea energy. Open until December 31, 2010.

The exhibition itinerary has seven stages, seven thematic sections with historical and scientific content, establishing an analogy between technical innovations in the past – such as the navigational instruments that enabled the Portuguese to discover new worlds in the 15th century – and modern technologies, with special emphasis on the use of renewable energies. Located outdoors, this itinerary offers an amazing 3 km promenade, surrounded by the promontory’s unique landscapes – that 600 years ago was considered to be the “end of the world”. In order to gain a better understanding of the historical importance of this site – a point of passage for many 15th century navigators, cartographers and captains – visitors can watch a film about Sagres and the Infante D. Henrique, that will be screened in the former munitions warehouse that has been converted into an auditorium.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about the Promontory and the Fortress of Sagres – a historical, cultural, natural and landscape heritage site of incomparable value, located in the heart of the Nature Park of the Costa Vicentina.

The Allgarve program is in its fourth year, offering a more ambitious and wider range of events linked to culture, entertainment and sport. The aim is to promote the Algarve as a quality tourist destination, associated with glamour and sophistication.

Besides its beautiful beaches, this region has unique and ideal characteristics for all kinds of sports, as well as for organizing cultural events and entertainment. Allgarve Gastronomy offers a blend of sophistication and tradition at the the Cataplana Experience and Culinary Festivals, where leading chefs provide you with the chance to savor some of the best regional products. Sport is a major activity in the Algarve, where you will find unique conditions, as well as pleasant spaces for a round of golf, water sports and many other activities. The aims of the Allgarve program continue to be to diversify the leisure supply by creating a new concept of summer tourism with different attractions that meet the expectations of the most demanding tourists, generating a new reputation and attracting larger tourist flows to the Algarve in the medium and long term. Allgarve’10 therefore seeks to continue to provide you with the chance to enjoy lifetime experiences.

Sagres will open a the Rota Vincentina hiking  trails that will start in Santiago do Cacem and finish in Sagres. The route will have the historical trail markers that passes by the major villages and a sub path called fishermen route that goes along the coast. This project is being developed in partnership with Associacao Casas Brancas e Almargem and should be up and running by November 2011.

The Yeatman opens its doors in July 2010. It will be the first five-star from the Portuguese city Vila Nova de Gaia.  All the rooms will overlook the spectacular ‘Ribeirinha’ Porto and are decorated in a classical style. The construction of The Yeatman began in May 2006 by the Fladgate Partnership, responsible for distribution of , Taylor’s, and with more than 300 years of history. Along with the ancient  cellars where they mature slowly famous nectars, The Yeatman was built on 2.6 hectares in the town center.

With a strong commitment in protecting the environment, half property of the hotel is designed with gardens, which will highlight an olive tree more than 1,300 years old and other trees that have been protected in the building. The rain water will be reused to water the garden, which will offer a Butterfly House. Many of the garden’s plants are endangered species in Portugal, as well as a variety of birds they attract.

The hotel was founded with the goal of being environmentally friendly and is perfectly integrated into the landscape, mimicking the slopes of the Douro River  coveted to growing grapes. A total of 82 rooms, of which 55 are superior, with 40 m2 and a price of 260 euros per night without breakfast. Executive rooms, a little smaller, 36 m2, cost 215 euros and include breakfast.

The master suite hotel is separated from the rest of the building and can be accessed from the garden. This is an open place of 126 m2 with a rotating bed can look to the fireplace, to the bathroom or to the spectacular views over the Douro and the city of Porto. The price for one night is 750 euros.

The other suites of The Yeatman was inspired by the philosophy of wine. Sleeping in one of them is like sleeping in a barrel, literally, as they have built headboards shaped like wine bottles.

The finest cuisine – Wine is the dominant theme of this place. Not only the port, but are intended to become a hotel wine from all regions of the country. In fact, rooms will be sponsored by wineries where you can test each of the different wines offered by the Portuguese grapes. The aim of The Yeatman is to ally the best location, the best cuisine and the best views. To do this, will have the largest winery in a country hotel, with more than 30 000 bottles, and one of the best chefs , Ricardo Costa, which aims to renew the Michelin star who got into the restaurant Casa da Calçada de Amarante. At the hotel’s gourmet restaurant, where you can enjoy, among other things, a private dinner in the candlelight, or themed dinners every Thursday, with wine tastings, and guests connected with the world of wine. The Yeatman aims to become a landmark luxury hotel at the international level, And for relaxation, there is a 2,000 m2 spa with 10 treatment rooms , indoor and outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath. The outdoor pool .

The Great Moliceiros‘ Regatta will be held on July 10th, a unique event that will fill the city of Aveiro with color!